Paminundas was borne in Thebe a famous citie in
Cadmus.
Amphion.
Hercules. Beotia, the which Cadmus the sone of Agenor buil-
ded, whiche Amphion did close & enuiron with wal-
les, in the whiche the mightie and valiaunt Hercules was
borne, & manie noble Princes helde therin scepter, the which
Citie is tituled famous to the posterity by the noble gouern-
ment of Epaminundas.
¶ Of his auncetours.
Paminundas came not of anie highe nobilitie or
blood, but his parentes were honeste and verteous
who as it semed were verie well affected to vertue,
instructyng their soonne in all singulare and good
qualities, for by good and vertuous life and famous enter-
prises from a meane state, manie haue bene extolled to beare
scepter, or to attaine greate honour, for as there is a begyn-
Nobility rose
by vertue. nyng of nobilitie, so there is an ende, by vertue and famous
actes towarde the common wealthe, nobilite first rose. The
Cesar.
Scipio. stock of Cesar and Cesars was exalted from a meaner state,
by vertue onelie to nobilitie. Scipios stocke was not alwais
noble, but his vertues graffed nobilitie to the posteritie of
his line and ofspryng followynge. And euen so as their fa-
mous enterprices excelled, nobilite in theim also increased.
Catilina. Catilina wicked, was of a noble house, but he degenerated
from the nobilitie of his auncestours, the vertues that graf-
fed nobilitie in his auncestors, were first extinguished in Ca-
Marcus
Antonius. iline. Marcus Antonius was a noble Emperour, a Prince
indued with all wisedome and Godlie gouernmēt, who was
of a noble parētage, it what a wicked sonne succeded him, the
Commodus. father was not so godlie, wise, and vertuous, as Commo-
dus was wickedlie disposed and pestiferous. There was no
vertue or excellence, méete for suche a personage, but that
Marcus attained to. Who for wisedome was called Marcus
Philosophus, in his sonne what vice was thē that he practi-
sed not, belie chier, druncknes and harlottes, was his delite,
his crueltie and bluddie life was suche that he murthered all
the godlie and wise Senatours, had in price with Marcus
Seuerus. his father. Seuerus in like maner, was a noble and famous
Emperor, in the Senate moste graue, politike, and in his
Marcus
Antonius
Caracalla. warres moste fortunate, but in his sonne Marcus Antoni-
nus Caracalla, what wickednes wanted, whose beastlie life
is rather to be put in silence, then spoken of. In the assemble
of the Grecians, gathered to consulte vpon the contencion of
Aiax.
Ulisses. Achilles armour, Aiax gloriouslie aduaunceth hymself of his
auncestrie, from many kinges descended, whom Ulisses his
aduersarie aunswered: makyng a long and eloquente Ora-
cion, before the noble péeres of Grece, concernyng Aiax his
auncetours. These are his woordes.
Nam genus et proauos et que non fecimus ipsi,
Vix ea nostra voco, sed enim quia retulit Aiax,
esse Iouis pronepos.
As for our parentage, and line of auncetours, long before
vs, and noble actes of theirs: as we our selues haue not doen
the like, how can we call, and title their actes to be ours. Let
them therefore, whiche haue descended from noble blood, and
famous auncetours: bee like affected to all nobilitée of their
auncetours, what can thei glory in the nobilitée of their aun-
cetours. Well, their auncetours haue laied the foundacion,
Nobilitee. and renoume of nobilitee to their ofspryng. What nobilitee
is founde in them, when thei builde nothyng, to their aunce-
tours woorke of nobilitée. Euen as their auncetours, noblie
endeuoured them selues, to purchase and obtain, by famous
actes their [nobilitée) for], nobilitée and vertue, descendeth al-
waies to the like) so thei contrary retire and giue backe, frō
all the nobiliée of their auncestours, where as thei ought,
A beginnyng
of nobilitee. with like nobilitée to imitate them. Many haue been, whiche
through their wisedome, and famous enterprises, in the af-
faires of their Prince, worthelie to honour haue been extol-
led and aduaunced: who also were the firste aucthours and
founders of nobiliée, to their name and ofspring. Whose of-
spring indued with like nobilitée of vertues, and noble actes
haue increased their auncestors glorie: the childrē or ofspring
lineally descendyng, hauyng no part of the auncestours glo-
rie, how can thei vaunte them selues of nobiliée, whiche thei
lacke, and dooe nothyng possesse thereof, Euen from lowe
Galerius a
Shepherds
sonne Empe-
ror of Rome.
Probus a
Gardeiners
sonne, Em-
perour. birthe and degrée. Galerius Armentarius was aduaunced,
euen from a Shepherdes sonne, to sit in the Imperiall seat of
Roome. Galerius Maximinus whom all the Easte obaied,
his vertues and noble acts huffed hym to beare scepter in the
Empire of Roome. Probus a Gardiners soonne, to the like
throne and glorie ascēded, so God disposeth the state of euery
man, placyng and bestowing dignitée, where it pleaseth him
as he setteth vp, so he pulleth doune, his prouidence & might
is bounde to no state, stocke, or kindred.
¶ Of his educacion.
Paminūdas beyng borne of soche parentes, was
brought vp in all excellente learnyng, for, vnder
hym Philippe the kyng of the Macedonians, the
soonne of Amintas, was brought vp. This Epa-
minundas, the Histories note hym to be a chief Philosopher,
and a capitaine moste valiaunte. In Musike, in plaiyng, and
singyng finelie to his Instrumente, notable and famous, no
kinde of learnyng, arte, or science, wanted in his breaste: So
greate and aboundante were his vertues, that aboue all go-
uernours, whiche haue been in Thebe, his name and fame
is chieflie aduaunced.
¶ The praise of his actes.